Wayanad, July 30: Kerala Minister AK Saseendran confirmed that 54 people have died so far in the landslides that hit the Meppadi area in Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday.

Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations.

The minister, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation

Meanwhile, Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures, state minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli will be soon joining the efforts on the ground.

In addition, a delegation of state ministers of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments are travelling by air from Thiruvananthapuram and are expected to reach the site soon, as per the Kerala chief minister's office.

Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that the state government is coordinating with various agencies to carry out rescue efforts on a "war footing."

"The chief minister is closely monitoring the operation. He has sent a team of ministers to Wayanad. An IAS officer will be camping in Wayand to coordinate the rescue ops. 250 people have been rescued and shifted to temporary shelter camps. We are airlifting stranded persons. All efforts are being taken by the government for rescue ops" the Kerala minister said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held discussions with top Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials on the situation in the landslide-affected Wayanad areas.

"Evaluated the ongoing relief and rescue operations at Chooralmala, Wayanad, following the severe landslide, in a visit to the Kerala SDMA office," Vijayan said.

An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being sent to the district in Kerala to assist in the rescue operations at Chooralmala that was hit by landslides on Tuesday morning, following torrential rains.

The Navy team is being despatched, at the request of Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan who sought the help of the Navy's River Crossing team, according to the Chief Minister's Office. Army and Air Force have also been mobilised for the rescue operations in the area, which have been hampered as a main bridge has collapsed in the town of Chooralmala.

The Kerala Chief Minister's Office said that police drones and a dog squad will be deployed for search and rescue efforts as instructed by the Chief Minister. District Collector DR Meghashree said that a platoon of the Army has reached Churamala for rescue operations.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Army chief and directed to mobilise forces for assistance and rescue in landslide-hit area and that army teams have reached the ground.

Around 200 Indian Army personnel from DSC Centre Kannur, 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode despatched to the site. A team of 30 specialists swimmers from Indian Navy being deployed. Two helicopters from Air Force station Sulur has been despatched, as per the Defence officials.

(ANI)

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